Friday, February 10, 2017

New York, NY - The Audio Publishers Association (APA) has announced finalists for the 22nd annual Audie Awards® competition, the premier awards program in the United States recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment. Winners will be revealed at the Audie Awards® Gala on June 1, 2017, at the French Institute Alliance Française in New York City. For the second year in a row, award-winning comedian, author, and commentator Paula Poundstone will emcee the event.

"This year has shown another increase in both the number and quality of submissions which mirrors the continued year-over-year growth and interest in audiobooks," says APA President Linda Lee. "We are excited to have Paula Poundstone back to emcee our festivities this year, which again promises to be a rollicking good time celebrating the best-of-the best in our vibrant industry!"

"Every year our judges' mission is to select the best, and every year they moan to me over how hard that is," adds Janet Benson, Audie Awards® Competition Chair. "Audiobooks have definitely arrived - if you're not listening to one right now, what are you waiting for? The quality titles on this list are a great place to start!"

Through the Audie Awards® competition, publishers enter titles in various categories for recognition of excellence. Finalists are selected by a diverse group of experienced judges and one winner is awarded the Audie in each category. For more information and to see a list of all of the nominees, visit www.theaudies.com.

Finalists in this year's competition are:

AUDIO DRAMA

Alien: Out of the Shadows: An Audible Original Drama by Tim Lebbon and Dirk Maggs, narrated by Rutger Hauer, Corey Johnson, Matthew Lewis, Kathryn Drysdale, Laurel Lefkow, Andrea Deck, and Mac McDonald, published by Audible Studios

Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor Adventures: Death and the Queen by James Goss, narrated by David Tennant, Catherine Tate, Alice Krige, Blake Ritson, Beth Chalmers, and Alan Cox, published by Big Finish Productions

Doctor Who: The War Doctor: Only The Monstrous by Nicholas Briggs, narrated by John Hurt, Jacqueline Pearce, Carolyn Seymour, and Lucy Briggs-Owen, published by Big Finish Productions

In the Embers by Brian Price and Jerry Stearns, narrated by Robin Miles, Edwin Strout, Dean Johnson, et al; music by Mike Wheaton, published by Great Northern Audio Theatre/Blackstone Audio

The Mountaintop by Katori Hall, narrated by Aja Naomi King and Larry Powell, published by LA Theatre Works

AUTOBIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR

Around the Way Girl written and narrated by Taraji P. Henson, published by Simon & Schuster Audio

Buffering: Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded by Hannah Hart, narrated by Hannah Hart and Judy Young, published by HarperAudio

The Greatest: My Own Story by Muhammad Ali with Richard Durham, narrated by Dion Graham, published by Graymalkin Media

The Rainbow Comes and Goes written and narrated by Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt, published by HarperAudio

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi; Foreword by Abraham Verghese, narrated by Sunil Malhotra and Cassandra Campbell, published by Penguin Random House Audio / Books On Tape

BEST FEMALE NARRATOR

Another Brooklyn: A Novel by Jacqueline Woodson, narrated by Robin Miles, published by HarperAudio

Be Frank with Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson, narrated by Tavia Gilbert, published by HarperAudio

The Little Red Chairs by Edna O'Brien, narrated by Juliet Stevenson, published by Hachette Audio

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, narrated by Emma Thompson, published by Audible Studios

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, narrated by Bahni Turpin, published by Penguin Random House Audio / Books On Tape

BEST MALE NARRATOR

Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff by Pappy Pariah, narrated by Sean Penn, published by Audible Studios

End of Watch by Stephen King, narrated by Will Patton, published by Simon & Schuster Audio

Jerusalem by Alan Moore, narrated by Simon Vance, published by Recorded Books

The Last Tribe by Brad Manuel, narrated by Scott Brick, published by Podium Publishing

The Purloined Poodle by Kevin Hearne, narrated by Luke Daniels, published by Kevin Hearne/ACX

Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters, narrated by William DeMeritt, published by Hachette Audio

BUSINESS/PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Capital Offenses: Business Crime and Punishment in America's Corporate Age by Samuel W. Buell, narrated by LJ Ganser, published by Audible Studios

Humans Need Not Apply by Jerry Kaplan, narrated by John Pruden, published by Tantor Media, a Division of Recorded Books

Shrill written and narrated by Lindy West, published by Hachette Audio

The Storyteller's Secret written and narrated by Carmine Gallo, published by Macmillan Audio

Trekonomics: The Economics of Star Trek by Manu Saadia, narrated by Oliver Wyman, published by Audible Studios

EROTICA

The Baller by Vi Keeland, narrated by Mackenzie Cartwright and Sean Crisden, published by Tantor Media, a Division of Recorded Books

The Darkest Torment by Gena Showalter, narrated by Max Bellmore, published by Recorded Books

Eighteen (18): Based on a True Story by J.A. Huss, narrated by Ava Erickson, published by Podium Publishing

January: Calendar Girl, Book 1 by Audrey Carlan, narrated by Summer Morton, published by Brilliance Publishing

Marriage Games by CD Reiss, narrated by Sebastian York and Elena Wolfe, published by Flip City Media Inc.

Sweet Dreams by Sunny Leone, narrated by Vikas Adams and Simone Lewis, published by Novel Audio

FANTASY

The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson, narrated by Michael Kramer, published by Macmillan Audio

The Black Prism by Brent Weeks, narrated by Simon Vance, published by Hachette Audio

The Everything Box by Richard Kadrey, narrated by Oliver Wyman, published by HarperAudio

The Hike by Drew Magary, narrated by Christopher Lane, published by Brilliance Audio

League of Dragons by Naomi Novik, narrated by Simon Vance, published by Tantor Media, a Division of Recorded Books

FICTION

America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie, narrated by Cassandra Campbell, published by HarperAudio

The Audio Publishers Association (APA) is a not-for-profit trade organization whose primary goals are to promote awareness of the audiobook industry, gather and disseminate industry statistics, encourage high production standards and represent the interests of audiobook publishers. Since 1986, the APA has worked to bring audio publishers together to increase interest in audiobooks. Please visit www.audiopub.orgfor more information.

New York, NY - The Audio Publishers Association (APA) has announced finalists for the 22nd annual Audie Awards® competition, the premier awards program in the United States recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment. Winners will be revealed at the Audie Awards® Gala on June 1, 2017, at the French Institute Alliance Française in New York City. For the second year in a row, award-winning comedian, author, and commentator Paula Poundstone will emcee the event.

"This year has shown another increase in both the number and quality of submissions which mirrors the continued year-over-year growth and interest in audiobooks," says APA President Linda Lee. "We are excited to have Paula Poundstone back to emcee our festivities this year, which again promises to be a rollicking good time celebrating the best-of-the best in our vibrant industry!"

"Every year our judges' mission is to select the best, and every year they moan to me over how hard that is," adds Janet Benson, Audie Awards® Competition Chair. "Audiobooks have definitely arrived - if you're not listening to one right now, what are you waiting for? The quality titles on this list are a great place to start!"

Through the Audie Awards® competition, publishers enter titles in various categories for recognition of excellence. Finalists are selected by a diverse group of experienced judges and one winner is awarded the Audie in each category. For more information and to see a list of all of the nominees, visit www.theaudies.com.